"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers , born Herman Gregory Rohde, Jr., (February 20, 1921 – June 26, 1992) was an American professional wrestler and one of the biggest wrestling stars in the beginning of the television era. His performances inspired generations of professional wrestlers, such as "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who used Buddy Rogers' nickname, as well as his look, his attitude, and his finishing hold, the figure four leglock. He was the first profes...
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"Nature Boy" Buddy Rogers , born Herman Gregory Rohde, Jr., (February 20, 1921 – June 26, 1992) was an American professional wrestler and one of the biggest wrestling stars in the beginning of the television era. His performances inspired generations of professional wrestlers, such as "Nature Boy" Ric Flair, who used Buddy Rogers' nickname, as well as his look, his attitude, and his finishing hold, the figure four leglock. He was the first professional wrestler to hold the WWF Championship and the NWA World Heavyweight Championship.
The son of German immigrant parents, Rogers was a New Jersey police officer before being discovered by a local promoter and soon became a top wrestler using his real name around his hometown where he gained his first major win over Ed "Strangler" Lewis.
He continued his career in Houston, where he assumed the name "Buddy Rogers". Rogers would get his first major taste of gold during his tenure there, winning the Texas Heavyweight title four times, once...
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